The new townsite of former
residents of the village of Nemiscau, who had been mostly living in
Waskaganish and Mistissini. With settlement funds from the James Bay
Agreement a replacement village was constructed in 1980 outside of proposed areas
of flooding. It has become home to the administration of the James Bay
Cree nations.

Nemiscau

Former
village of Nemaska Residents

Pronunciation

NE-mis-caw

Population

Summer residents only

Location

Némiscau Lake
on Rupert River

Other Names

Némascau, Némasca, Nemesca, Nemesca Lake,
Nemiska

Site has been used
off and on by French and English traders since 1661. Although the
Hudson's Bay Company had a post earlier, in 1908 it was permanently re-established. In 1970, the village was virtually
abandoned when the Hudson's Bay Company post closed, leaving the
residents without a store (it is disputed whether the HBC warned the people or
the people did not prepare for an announced closure). Residents scattered
to Waskagnish (then Rupert House) and Mistissini, two communities to which
they have strong historical ties. Gradually, residents at new Nemaska have returned
for the
summers, and some have built summer homes.

Sources: Grand Council of the
Crees, Energy Mines and Resources Canada, Strangers Devour the Land
by Boyce Richardson, Hudson's Bay Company Archives, Nemaska Cree Council